harvest and harvesters

1. Lesson 12

2. KEY TEXT
“Herein is my Father
glorified, that ye bear
much fruit; so shall ye
be my disciples”
John 15:8

3. In many respects this lesson is a
continuation of the previous
lesson. Christ established spiritual
leaders for the distinct purpose of
proclaiming the kingdom of God.
The principles and methodology
that Jesus employed must remain
the spiritual foundation for the
Christian’s preparation today.
In other words, modern leadership
development theories must never
supplant the foundation that
Christ Himself laid. Whenever
hype and publicity take
precedence over spiritual growth,
the results are shallowness and
spiritual sterility.

4. Whenever proselytizing
displaces repentance,
conversion, and spiritual
transformation, the mission
falters. Training leaders to
conduct membership drives,
media blitzes, and public
relations campaigns instead of
preparing them for spiritual
warfare is courting disaster.
True evangelism and disciple-
making are centered around
(1) the acknowledgment of our
sinfulness, (2) genuine
heartfelt contrition, (3) our
unreserved spiritual surrender,
and (4) the irrepressible
compulsion to disseminate
God’s divine message to
others.

5. “Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the
laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to
send out laborers into His harvest.”” (Luke 10:2)
Jesus saw the Gospel seed growing in the hearts of the crowd
around Him.
But who would lead them to the Savior?
Laborers (both pastors and laymen/laywomen) are needed to
harvest the precious seed.

6. “Our churches are languishing for
the want of whole-hearted, self-
denying workers. Our smaller
churches are losing their vitality
because their members do not seek
to work for those around them. God
can work with few as well as with
many, but personal responsibility
does not seem to be
comprehended as it should be by
the members of our churches. Can
God bless the church that is
indolent and selfish?”
EGW (The Review and Herald, June 16, 1891)
“Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few;
therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.””
(Luke 10:2)

7. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,
He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things
that I said to you.” (John 14:26)
The testimony of humble
repented sinners—who are
guided by the power of the
Holy Spirit—may persuade
other sinners like no angel
could do.
Why does God want to use men and
women to spread the Gospel? Isn’t
the Holy Spirit able to do that by
Himself? Could the angels do that
better than us?

8. Not everyone is called to mass evangelism.
For example, the stories of Andrew, Philip and
the Samaritan woman show the power of simple
and passionate testimonies.
We are called to do so.
“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name,
He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things
that I said to you.” (John 14:26)

9. A good laborer must be guided by
his employer.
The Spirit caught Philip away and
took him to Azotus (Acts 8:39-40)
The Spirit didn’t let Paul preach
in Asia. He guided him to preach
in Europe (Acts 16:6-10)
“We cannot use the Holy Spirit; the Spirit is to
use us… Only to those who wait humbly upon
God, who watch for His guidance and grace, is
the Spirit given”
(EGW, God’s Amazing Grace, July 23)
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry
in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from
on high.” (Luke 24:49)

10. “So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also
send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if
you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”” (John 20:21-23)
As the Father commissioned Jesus,
so Christ commissions His disciples.
Through the Spirit, the Father
invested Christ with divine power.
Through the Spirit, Jesus likewise
invests His disciples with divine
power commensurate with their
earthly assignments. Every
necessary skill, talent, capability,
and strength has been supplied.
Jesus delegated His authority to His
disciples. We must also delegate it
to others. No one can do God’s work
by himself.

11. “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that
which was lost” (Luke 19:10)
Men took the wrong path and don’t know
how to get back on the road. Jesus came to
seek the lost and to take them back home.
He wants us to
become finders of the
lost. He wants us to
love and to reach the
lost, regardless of the
kind of people they
are or the kind of lives
they live.

12. “In this work all the angels
of heaven are ready to
co-operate. All the resources
of heaven are at the command
of those who are seeking to
save the lost. Angels will help
you to reach the most careless
and the most hardened.
And when one is brought back to God, all heaven is made
glad; seraphs and cherubs touch their golden harps, and
sing praises to God and the Lamb for their mercy and
loving-kindness to the children of men.”
EGW (Christ’s Object Lessons, cp. 15, pg. 197)

13. How can our anxious spirits
be calmed to await patiently
for the Spirit’s leading?
What practical things should
modern believers do in their
attempts to cultivate such
patience?
What does patient, prayerful
trust indicate regarding our
relationship with God?
REFLECTION

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